With over 2,000 wine labels and 3,000 years of practice it is obvious that the Italians have wine making down to an art and one of the better regions is Tuscany, home of Chianti and Brunello di Montalchino. Take a tour around one of the vineyards and sample the local produce as well as enjoying the magnificent view of the valleys that the vines are grown in. Move on to Veneto and change your wines to Valpolicella and Soave. Be sure to get a taxi or go on an organized tour.

Milan - discover the sculptures of the Monumental cemetery

A tour around a cemetery is not what you would normally think to do for an enjoyable day but the cemetery in Milan is filled with beautiful sculptures and statues and you could spend all day looking around and reading the inscriptions on the graves. Guided tours are available and highly recommended as there has been a cemetery here since 1886 so there is plenty of history. The entrance to the cemetery is through the amazing Memorial Chapel Famedio

Milan - See the displays of the Ambosiana Library and Picture Gallery

The Ambrosiana Library in Milan is a beautiful building and makes for an interesting visit but it is what it houses that makes it so special. The library is filled with historic books and paintings the most well know on which is DaVinci’s Codex Atlanticus – the one with all the plane drawings. Also on display are paintings by DaVinci, Botticelli, Titan and the first official copy of the Last Supper painted in 1625. The library is closed on Monday’s

Naples - take a trip to the active Mount Vesuvius volcano

A visit to Europe’s last active volcano at Vesuvius is one of the highlights of visiting Italy. Tours are available right to the summit at 1279 m where you can peer into the crater and see the lake and steam coming from it. Other tours allow you to discover the lower parts of the volcano and see where lava flows have been in the past. The walk to that summit is not that strenuous and possible for most people

Rome - see the amazing architecture of the Pantheon

rotunda this is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. The only light comes through the oculus in the centre of the roof as well as through the door. The inside of the dome consist of sunken panels that are believed to have some symbolic meaning, possible lunar.

Rome - take an informative Jewish Roma walking tour

There have been Jews living in Rome for over 22 centuries making it the longest continuous Jewish community anywhere in the world today. A tour around Rome highlights the impact that they have had on the city and the hardships that have been endured. There are a series of tours most of which last 3 hours but possibly the best is around the old city itself including the old synagogue and museum as well as a trip to a Kosher bakery.

Siena - experience the gothic Siena Cathedral

Taking 48 years to build the Cathedral of Sienna was completed in 1263 and is unusual in that it has both a tower and a dome. The outside has wonderful side towers and carvings but it is the inside that is a work of art. Full of frescos and a high vaulted ceiling the cathedral also boasts a beautiful stone pulpit. The mosaic floor is thought by many to be the best in Italy taking 200 years to complete and is made up of 56 different panels each with a different theme

Sorrento - wander around the Correale di Terranova Museum

A visit to the Correale di Terranova Museum is more like a visit to a stately home than a museum with many of the displays being from the family’s history. The museum is filled with porcelain, paintings, furnishings and clocks dating back to the 1900s. A stroll around the gardens gives a chance to relax and affords an opportunity to see the beautiful Sorrento Port. The museum is open from 9am to 1pm and closed on Tuesdays.

Venice - stroll along St Mark's Square

St Mark’s Square has been the centre of Venice social life since the 9th century and is possibly one of the most recognizable piazza or squares in the world. Take a gentle stroll around the square and enjoy the beautiful architecture and the medieval clock tower. Take a walk or tour around the famous St Marks Basilica or enjoy a cappuccino, pizza or ice cream just like the locals. The square gets very busy in the summer period

Venice - take a gondola on the Grand Canal

The Grand Canal in Venice is the longest of the 177 canals that make up the city. At 3,800m long it a relaxing ride in a gondola also offers you an ideal opportunity to view 7 centuries of history many of which emerge directly out of the water like a mysterious island. You can take a tour at any time along the canal but be warned Venice gets very busy between July and September. There are also only 450 gondola licenses issued so a ride is not cheap, but definitely worth it.

Introduction of Italy

Along with Greece, Italy is widely recognised has having one of the greatest influences on Western civilisation. As such, its cultural heritage makes it one of Europe's leading tourist destinations. Much of this heritage is centred on the capital, Rome, where attractions such as the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain tell the story of the city through its Roman and Baroque periods. Outside the capital, Tuscany is the heart of Renaissance-era Italy, especially evident in stunning cities such as Florence. The region is also home to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, an iconic landmark. In the northeast, Venice is one of the world's most romantic city, with its canals, gondolas and exquisite churches. The Italian Alps are home to ski resorts to rival those elsewhere in the world, where the food and wine have a subtle Austrian slant. Some of the best food can be found in the south of the country, in places such as Naples, the jumping-off point for Pompeii, and on the island of Sicily. Italy hotels vary in quality and the local star-rating should only be used as a rough guide.